Consultancy on Private Fundraising in Central and West Africa

Consultancy assignment background

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international humanitarian organisation providing protection and assistance to displaced and crisis-affected populations in over 35 countries. NRC supports displaced and conflict-affected populations through protection, education, WASH, and shelter programming, with growing partnership and localisation approaches and various modalities.

In response to a changing donor landscape and increasing humanitarian needs, NRC aims to grow its fundraising from private foundations, corporates and philanthropists in Central and West Africa. As traditional funding sources become more constrained, NRC has an ambition to diversify its funding base and secure more flexible, less earmarked resources to better respond to fluid and complex displacement contexts.

Responsibilities

Map and analyse potential private sector funding opportunities in Central and West African countries covered by NRC (i.e. corporates, foundations, philanthropists, etc.), focusing on partnerships with a minimum potential value of USD 50,000 per year and aligned with NRC's response policy and core sectors. The mapping should include strategic priorities, sectors of interest, funding modalities (e.g. calls for proposals, unsolicited concept notes), key contacts, decision-making level, recommended appropriate level of engagement according to NRC's structure (country, regional, Head Office), and any existing or prior relationship with NRC.

• Develop a short report with recommended key actions for engagement for the regional team of NRC
• Translate the mapping into a prioritised and realistic engagement pipeline, distinguishing between short-term opportunities (12-18 months) and medium-term positioning efforts

Deliverables

• Comprehensive private sector donors mapping for Central and West Africa countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Mali, Niger and Nigeria)
• Development of a prioritised and operational engagement plan (regional overview with country-level annexes)
• Final synthesis report and roadmap

Scope of Work

• Duration: 2 months (March 2026 - May 2026), maximum 35 working days
• Location: Home-based. Given the breadth of the region, the consultant is expected to prioritise depth over exhaustive coverage, focusing on the most promising countries and donor segments, in agreement with NRC
• Engagement: Remote consultations with Regional Team, Country Office teams and relevant global colleagues
• Deliverables:
  • Mapping of private sector donors for CWA
  • Engagement plan with private sector donors for CWA
  • Final report including action plan 2026

NRC Responsibilities

• Provide all background documentation, existing mapping, and information on previous engagement with private foundation, corporates and philanthropists in targeted geographies
• Facilitate access to relevant staff for the consultant to arrange virtual meetings
• Provide templates and guidance for formatting
• Review and validate outputs within agreed timelines
• Cover consultancy fees
• Support internal coordination
• Be available for meetings and provide appropriate guidance to the consultant

Consultant Duties

• Deliver all outputs to a high professional standard, in UK English
• Manage their own IT equipment, software, connectivity, and insurance
• Conduct all internal meetings and consultations remotely
• Submit all draft versions and final versions
• Ensure compliant handling of personal data related to private donors and contacts, in line with NRC's data protection and ethical standards, including consent for storing contact details in NRC systems

Required Formats

• Text in MS Word
• Tools/templates in MS Excel or Word
• Presentations in PowerPoint
• Graphics delivered in editable formats (PPT, SVG or similar)

Implementation Schedule

• Week 1: Foundations, Review and Structuring
  • Initial meeting with NRC regional team and global partnership teams
  • Review all existing materials
  • Conduct consultations with Partnership Section, Regional Team and Country Teams
  • Confirm the final structure and component of the Final Report and other deliverables
• End of Week 4:
  • Interim validation checkpoint with NRC Regional Team and Global Partnerships
• Week 2-6: Development of deliverables
  • Conduct a desk review of potential suitable private partners
  • Develop engagement plan for each country
• Week 7-8: Finalisation and Submission
  • Submit all final deliverables
  • Address final review comments from RT and HO partnership teams

Consultant Profile

• Demonstrated experience in private fundraising, including foundations, corporates and philanthropic actors
• Proven experience in partnership development for international NGOs or similar organisations
• Strong understanding of humanitarian and displacement contexts, preferably in Africa
• Ability to translate research and mapping into actionable fundraising pipelines

Selection Criteria

• Administrative Evaluation: Technical Offer, Financial Offer, Documentation of the consultant's business registration
• Proposal/Bid Quality (Demonstrated understanding of the scope of the ToR, via a clear proposed methodology for conducting evaluation): 25%
• Capacity (Demonstrated reliability in delivery of quality services, as illustrated by relevant previous experience and quality of writing samples): 25%
• Relevance (Academic qualifications, relevant evaluation experience, relevant experience in Central and West Africa): 25%
• Financial Offer: 25%

How to apply

Download the full ITB with detailed instructions

For additional information, please send your inquiries to email under Apply Button before the closing date.

All interested and eligible firms/consultants are requested to submit their bids to email under Apply Button

Deadline: All bids must be submitted no later than 20th March, 2026 at 5:00 pm (Dakar time) by email to email under Apply Button